Mandela Had A Dream For A Rainbow Nation But First He Had To Endure The Grey
Globetrotters Monthly Challenge
“We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.” – Nelson Mandela
The skies were grey and the sea was angry as we boarded the ferry to Robben Island. It was a rough crossing and many of the passengers were terribly seasick.
I even caught a fellow traveler by the hand before she went overboard! A railing gave way and she was ever so close to being swallowed up by the sea.
I was glad to finally set foot on the island. It feels odd to say that considering its past. I can imagine none of the inmates felt the same way.
Once on dry land, I looked back across the bay and Table Mountain stood resolute, magnificent and grey. The low cloud ready and waiting to be draped across her top as the famous ‘table cloth’.
Our guide bundled us onto a bus and we made the short trip from the dock to the infamous prison. A prison that once housed Nelson Mandela.
This little rock had been a prison island since the 17th Century. It now lay quiet and still. A solemn reminder of the past wrongs committed by captives and captors alike.
Our guide led us through the grounds and into the various buildings. We stopped in at Mandela’s cell and those of countless other inmates.
We visited the limestone quarry where for centuries inmates did hard labour with worn-out tools. Returning each day a light shade of grey from the dust and dirt of their toil.
The whole place was strangely peaceful but I never felt at peace. Not for a minute.
It weighed heavy on the soul. As if all the colour had been drained from the place and all that remained was grey.
For the second time in as many weeks, I am lost for words to describe the emotion of the experience. So, I share some of my photography to help articulate it.
There was no denying the emotion I felt during my visit to Robben Island.
I left with a lingering thought about the human capacity to inflict pain and suffering on others. It is beyond comprehension.
But all hope is not lost. For even in the grey there is light!
Without adversity, we cannot know the true joy of triumph.
Two stories in particular inspired me to write this.
First, I read Adrienne Beaumont’s wonderfully written story Walking in Auschwitz Alone. It filled me with emotion and the story stuck with me for days. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It reminded me of the feelings I’d felt when I visited Robben Island. I just knew I had to write a story about that experience.
I also recently read Anne Bonfert’s November Challenge story and as always her writing and photography is captivating. After reading her story I decided I should write my Robben Island story for this challenge.
Please check these stories out, they are fantastic!
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